The Inspection Process
The permit inspection process is required by Charles County and Town Governments to verify conformance with the building codes and ordinances adopted. The inspections required vary depending upon the type, size, and scope of the project. The number of inspections and types of inspections are contigent upon the demands of the codes and what is discovered during Plan Review. Each permit holder is provided the required number and types of inspections in the permit packet provided to them after Planning and Growth management approve the permit(s). Completing the entire inspection process and obtaining the Use & Occupancy certification are legal responsibilities. Planchek is ready to provide assistance and help with the any aspect of compliance.
1. Building Permit References
Codes Permits & Inspection Services (CPIS), is a division of Planning & Growth Management and they provide a number of services for permit applicants including:
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Generic permit information, along with requirements and applications for permits
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The development history of a property and the permits associated with the property
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​The Charles County Government's Customer Assistance Guide
2. Scheduling Inspections
Inspection scheduling may begin once the permit is available to Planchek.
Importantly, the "Order of Inspections" must be followed. Pre-requisite inspections must precede others, and all pre-requisite inspections must be approved before finals can be scheduled.
Calling Planchek's office (301-870-8710) to schedule an inspection assures the permit holder's questions are answered and any other requirements are disclosed.
The inspector can also provide an estimate of their arrival time, usually within a 4-hour window.
3. Use & Occupancy Certificate
Once ALL the Final inspections are approved, the inspector will complete and issue an application for the Use & Occupancy Certificate (U&O).
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The U&O is the legal document that sanctions the "Use and Occupancy" of the dwelling or structure.
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Possession of this document is a legal requirement for homeowners in order to begin using the dwelling. Likewise, commercial property owners must have this in order to begin performing business functions in their structure.